Packing



Sept. 10, 1929. J. M. RYAN 1,727,732

PACKING Filed Aug. 1, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l Liz/77717162374270 Sept. 10,1929. RYAN 1,727,732

PACKING Filed Aug.- 1, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. M RYAN PACKING FiledAug. 1, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN M. RYAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PACKING.

Application filed August 1, 192

This invention relates to improvements in packing for use in stallingboxes, couplings, and the like, for the purpose of making fluid tightjoints between fixed or relatively mov- I able parts of machines andother devices. The principal object of the invention is to provide a newform of packing which may be more economically manufactured and moreconveniently and ei'liciently used than i other forms of packingheretofore known.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic pacxing whichmay be used in any desired quantity to form a fluid tight joint", in amanner similar to the method of using non-metallic iiacking in thepractice heretoiore known, but with greater elliciei A turtl eradvantage of the packing of present invention that it provides animproved form of metallic packing which may be used without until all ofit is Still another object of the invention is to provide improvedmethod lining a metallic packing. Gther -bclate to various features ofthe method iproved packing material such as will appear more fullyhereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the followingspecification t 'l en with the accompanying drawings in wl ch certainembodiments of the improved j and one method of forming it are setforth. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspectiveview showing one method of producing the strands or ribbon of packingmaterial from a cylinder of ductile metal; Fig. 2 shows an edperspective view of a section of ribbon-like packing material; Fig. 3shows a side elevation of a section of the ribbon-like packing materialarranged in the form or a helix; Fig. 4.- is a perspective viewshowingthe improved packing material in the form of a circular washer orgasket; Fig 5 shows a vertical section through a stuffing box or packingjoint showing one use of the improved packing material to form afluid-tight joint; Fig. 6 shows a vertical section through anotherstuffing box illustrat' another arrangement and use of the impro. .dpacking material; Fig. 7 shows ted.

Serial No, 42,459.

a vertical section through another packing joint, illustrating anotherform and use of the improved packing material of this invention; Fig. 8shows a vertical section through still another stufiing box,illustrating still another form and arrangement of the improved packingmaterial; Fig. 9 shows a vertical section through another stuffing boxillustrating the use of superimposed circular sections of the packingmaterial in forming a fluid-tight joint; and Fig. 10 shows a top planview of the packing material employed in the stuillng box illustrated inFig. 9.

The impro ed metallic packing of the present invention is formedpreferably of lead, or an alloy of lead and copper, or other metals oralloys having sufficient ductility to permit the packing to be pressedinto compact form to produce a fluid-tight oint, and also to permit theconvenient formation of the packing material from a body of metal. Informing the packing material by one method, which is now preferred, themetal or alloy, hereinafter referred to as the metal, is first meltedand cast into the form of a cylinder 15, as shown in Fig. 1, and thiscylinder is then mounted in the chuck 16 of a lathe 17, the chuck beingsupported by a spindle. journaled in a bearing 18 and the spindle beingpower-driven by a motor 19 or the like so that the cylinder is turned inthe usual manner in lathe operation. As the cylinder turns, it isoperated upon by a machine tool 20 mounted on a longitudinallyadjustable support 21 and comprising a part 22 which is adjustabletoward and from the axis of rotation of the cylinder 15 so that thecutting tool may be caused to operateas desired on any part of thecylinder of metal. T he packing material is preferably cut from the endof the cylinder 15, as shown in Fig. l, and, during the operation of thelathe which effects the rotation of the cylinder, the cutting tool 20turns a strand or ribbon 24 from the cylinder. This strand or ribbon 24may be comparatively thin and comparatively narrow, as shown in Fig. 1,but it is preferably formed as a relatively wide band or ribbon asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 8.

for example. Whatever form or shape be imparted to the strand or ribbonwhich is turned from the cylinder 15, it is preferably ductile andflexible so that it can be formed into the desired shape for packingpurposes.

A sect-ion of the packing material formed as a fiat band or ribbon isshown in Fig. 2 where it will be seen that the width of the band isrelatively large as compared with its thickness. A ribbon of theflexible and duetile material can be formed into a helix 26 as shown inFig. 3. By suitably arranging the cutting tool and other parts of thelathe, the material can be turned from the block 15 in the form of thehelix 26 and this helical form is particularly advantageous in that itpermits the ready application of the packing material to a sti'ifiingbox in which the packing material encircles a piston rod or othercircular part. The flat band or ribbon Q5 of packing material may alsobe formed into a flat washer or gasket 27 as shown in Fig. 4, where thegasket is illustrated as comprising a number of turns of the ribbonwhich are arranged in circular form, the successive turns beingsuperimposed upon each other so that the gasket may have any desiredthickness. Upon placing this gasket between the parts of a joint in apipe, steam press, or the like, the parts may be drawn together and thegasket will be sufficiently compressed to form a fluid-tight joint.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings there is illustrated the application of theinvention in forming a fluid-tight joint in a well-known form ofstufling box. This construction comprises the cylindrical stuffing box30 which may be mounted on a plate 31, such as the end Wall of an enginecylinder, for example, the plate 31 being provided with an aperture 32which is engaged by a packing gland 33. The gland 33 is provided with aninternal chamber 34 for the reception of packing material designed toform a fluid-tight joint between the parts of the stuffing box and therelatively movable piston rod 35. The upper part of the wall of thechamber 34 is cylindrical as shown at 34 while the lower part thereof isinclined inwardly toward the bottom of the packing gland as shown at34"., This packing chamber 34 is filled with packing material 36 made upof aplurality of superimposed layers of the ribbon-like ductile metalheretofore described. The uppermost layers of the packing material areengaged by a packing follower 37 having a part extending downwardlyinto. the chamber 34 and being provided at its upper part with anoutwardly extending flange 37 adapted to be en gaged by a coil spring38. This coil spring is engaged at itsupper end by a pressure plate 39adjustably secured to the stuffing box 30 by means of lugs or bolts 40which may be tightened in order to compress the spring 38 and cause thefollower 37 to move downwardly and maintain the superimposed ribbons ofthe packing material 36 in tight contact with each other. The follower37 is provided at its lower end with a downwardly extending annular lug37 adapted to engage the uppermost and innermost layer of the packingmaterial. As the follower 37 is forced and adjusted downwardly by theaction of the spring 38 and the adjustment of the studs 40, the packingmaterial is wedged inwardly by the inclined annular surface 34 so thatit maintains at all times a close contact with the peripheral surface ofthe piston rod 35. The packing material 36 may be formed by placing ahelix like that illustrated in Fig. 3 around the piston rod 35 andforcing it downwardly into the packing chamber 34 or a number ofcircular sections of the ribbon-like material may be placed one abovethe other. A limited amount of moisture may enter between adj acentlayers of the ribbon-like packing material and serve to assist informing a fluidtight joint.

Another arrangement and use of the improved packing material isillustrated in Fig. 6 in connection with a stuffing box having mountedtherein a lower packing follower 46 of circular form arranged to opposean upper packing follower 47 of circular form. The lower packingfollower 46 rests on a coil spring 48 which is supported on the lowerwall 45 of the stuffing box and all of these parts extend around acylindrical piston rod 49. The lower follower 46 is provided with adepending annular flange 46 which extends around the upper part of thecoil spring 48 and both of the followers 46 and 47 are provided on theiradjacent sides with inclined wedging surfaces 46" and 47", respectively,which are adapted to cooperate with the inclined surfaces of the packingmaterial 50 which, in this instance, is formed in two sections 50 and50'. Each section of the packing material is formed of a number ofsuperimposed layers of the ribbon-like ductile metal which aresuperimposed upon each other and which are arranged so that thesuccessive layers have an inclination to a plane extending transverselyto the axis of the piston rod 49. The outermost portions of the sections50 and 50 of the packing material contact with each other and theinnermost edges of the sections contact with the wall of the piston rod.The upper follower 47 is provided with an inner annular section 47 awhich engages the innermost upper surface of the upper section 50 Theupper follower 47 is engaged by a pressure member 51 which is adjustably secured to the stuffing box 45 by means of studs or bolts 52 sothat the pressure member 51 may be drawn downwardly to compress thespring 48 and maintain the lower follower 4:6 in position to exert apressure on the packing 50 with the result that the superimposed ribbonsof the packing material are compressed against each other and forcedinwardly into contact with the surface of the piston red by the actionof the inclined surfaces 46 and 47". After a portion of the packingmaterial has become worn after continued use, a few additional layers ofthe ribbonelike packing material canbe put in place to replace thatwhich has become worn so that all of the packing material within thepacking joint may be used until it has been entirely consumed. This isan advantage which is inherent in all forms of the invention, regardlessof the particular use to which the packing material is put.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated in connection with astufiing box and a piston rod 56, a modified form of the packingmaterial in which the ribbon has a V-shaped or angular cross-section. Inthis construction, a number of layers of the V- shaped ribbon 57 aresuperimposed upon each other to form a body of packing material 57'adapted to be mounted in the packing chamber 58. The upper end of thepacking chamber 58 is engaged by a follower 59 formed as a part of thepressure member 60 which is secured to the stufling box 55 by means ofstuds 61 so that, upon adjustment of the studs, the follower 59 may beforced downwardly into the packing chamber to engage the annular apex 57of the packing material and force it downwardly. It will be observedthat the pressure exerted on the annular apex 57 a will force thesuperimposed ribbons 56 upon each other and at the same time cause alateral spreading of the packing material so that the inner edges of theribbon-like material will be forced against the piston rod 56.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings there is illus trated another modifiedarrangement of the packing material in connection with a stuffing box 65and a piston rod 66. The stuffing box has a packing chamber 67 which isfilled by packing material of the present invention arranged in twoannular sections 68 and 68, these sections being separated by an annularwasher 69. Each of the sections 68 and 68 is made up of a plurality ofsuperimposed ribbons of the packing material of the present inventionbut in this instance the ribbons are cut from the block of ductile metalby means of a cutting tool which imparts to them the cross-section ofthe letter W, shown inverted in Fig. 6 so that the apices 68 of thepacking material are directed upwardly to be engaged by the washer 69and by the follower 70 which is formed as a part of the pressure member71. This pressure member is secured to the stuffing box by means ofstuds 72 so that pressure may be exerted on the annular sections ofpacking material to cause the superimposed ribbons to be pressed tightlyagainst each other and also to spread outwardly due to their angularshape so that the inner edges will maintain a fluid-tight contact withthe relatively movable piston rod 66.

InFigs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, there is illustrated another modifiedarrangement,

previously referred to, according to which the packing material is madeup of a plurality of separate circular sections of ribbonhke materialsuperimposed upon each other. In this construction, there is illustrateda stuffing box 7 5 adapted to form a fluid-tight oint abouta piston rod76. The stufling box 75 1S provided with a cylindrical packing chamber77 having mounted in the lower part thereof an annular filler 78 havingan inclined wedging surface 78. The packing chamber 77 is partiallyoccupied by a section of packing material 79 which is made up of aplurality of superimposed rings 80 of ribbon-like packing materialformed according to the present invention. Each ring is of circular formand the ends of the ring are separated to provide a gap 81, as shown in10, the gap 81 in the superimposed layers of the ribbon-like materialbeing offset with respect to each other so that a continuous fluid-tightpacking joint is formed. The uppermost layer of the ribbon-like materialwhich forms the packing 79 is engaged by a follower 82 formed as a partof a pressure member 83, and this pressure member is adjustably securedto the stuffing box 75 by means of studs 84 so that the follower 82 maybe forced downwardly to cause the superimposed rings of packing materialto be forced downwardly over the inclined wedging surface 78 with theresult that the packing material is maintained in close contact with thesurface of the piston rod 76 as well as in contact with other parts ofthe stuffing box.

It willlbe observed that the packing mate rial of the present invent-ionmay be applied conveniently and readily replaced, and that it is adaptedto maintain a more perfect fluid joint than other materials heretoforeknown. Although Fig. 10 is intendedto illustrate particularly thearrangement of the layers of packing material which are used in theconstruction of Fig. 9, it will be understood that Fig. 10 may beconsidered as a plan view of the packing material employed in otherarrangements of the invention and that a plurality of superimposed ringsof the ribbon-like material which are-ilistinct from each other, asrepresented in Fig. 10, may be employed in connection with thearrangement of packing material illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. Insome instances, the superimposed rings of packing material which areseparate from each other as indicated in F ig.

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10 are adapted to accommodate themselves more perfectly to thesurrounding parts of the stufling box than in the arrangement where thesuperimposed layers are formed as parts .of a continuous file of theribbonlike material. The ribbon-like form of the packing material,particularly When formed as a helix, may be employed advantageously withmaterials other than metal.

Although one method of forming the packing material and severalarrangements of the packing material for use in forming fluid-tightjoints have been shown and described, it will be understood that theinvention is not limited except as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a metallic packing which consists in cutting aflexible flat ribbon of helical formation from a body of ductile metal.

2. The method of forming a metallic packing which consists in cutting aflexible flat ribbon from a body of metal, and compressing a pluralityof superimposed regularly arranged layers of said ribbon to form apacking body.

3. The method of forming a metallic packing joint which consists informing a body of ductible metal, rotating said body and cutting fromthe surface thereof a flexible flat ribbon of metal, placing saidflexible ribbon in a cylindrical stuffing box with the edges of theribbon engaging the cylindrical Walls of said stufling box, andcompressing said flexible ribbon to form a fluid-tight Joint.

l. The method of forming a metallic packing joint which consists informing a flexible 20 metallic ribbon from a body of ductible metal,placinga plurality of layers of said ribbon one above the other in apacking chamber to contact directly With each other on their flatsurfaces, and applying pressure to said layers in said chamber to form afluid-tight joint.

5. The method of forming a metallic packing joint which consists informing a flexible ribbon of metal from a body of ductile metal, placinga plurality of layers of said ribbon in a packing chamber with saidlayers inclined to the surfaces engaged by the edges thereof, andapplying pressure to force said edges against said surfaces and tocompress said layers.

6. The method of forming a metallic packing joint Which consists informing a flexible ribbon of metal having parts thereof relativelyinclined transversely of the ribbon, placing a plurality of layers ofsaid ribbon in a packing chamber, and applying pres sure to said layersof ribbon transversely thereof to cause a decrease in the relative in-.clination of parts of said ribbon and a consequent engagement of theedges of the layers with the surrounding surfaces.

7. A metallic packing comprising a relatively thin and Wide flexibleflat ribbon of ductile metal arranged in the form of a ring and havingits flat surfaces extending outwardly from the axis of said ring.

8. A metallic packing comprising a plurality of superimposed flexibleflat ribbons of ductible metal arranged in a ring to con tact With eachother on their flat surfaces and having said flat surfaces extendingoutwardly from the axis of the ring.

9. A metallic packing comprising a plurality of flexible ribbons ofductible metal formed in rings and superimposed upon each other tocontact directly With each other on their flat surfaces and having saidflat surfaces extending radially of the common axis of said rings.

10. A metallic packing comprising a relatively thin flexible ribbon ofductile metal coiled in the form of a helix with adjacent convolutionsadapted to contact directly with each other.

11. A. metallic packing comprising a flat flexible ribbon of ductilemetal arranged in the form of a continuous helix, the superimposedlayers of ribbon extending edge- Wise to the longitudinal axis of thehelix.

12. A metallic packing made up of a thin flexible ribbon of ductilemetal having the form of a continuous helix, the superimposed layers ofribbon forming the helix being arranged With their surfaces oblique tothe longitudinal axis of the helix.

13. A. metallic packing comprising a flat flexible ribbon of ductilemetal arranged in the form of a continuous helix, the superimposedlayers of ribbon extending edgeWise to the longitudinal axis of thehelix, the superimposed layers of said ribbon contacting directly Witheach other.

14. The method of forming a packing joint Which consists in placing in apacking chamber having a relatively movable cylindrical part, a helicalflat ribbon of ductile metal arranged around said part and having thesuperimposed layers of ribbon extending at an oblique angle to thesurface of said movable part, then compressing said helical packing ringby applying pressure parallel to the axis of the helix.

JOHN M. RYAN.

